Milwaukee Bucks re-sign free agent Brook Lopez: Reaction and Analysis

Once 2023 NBA Free Agency opened, Milwaukee Bucks fans expected the team to quickly get new deals done for Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez.

While Middleton’s new three-year deal came fairly swiftly, that was not the case for Lopez, as the big man certainly took his time getting a new deal inked. Nearly 22 hours after free agency began, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Bucks have re-signed Lopez on a new two-year deal worth $48 million.

Milwaukee Bucks re-sign free agent Brook Lopez: Reaction and Analysis

On the surface, that’s a lot of money for Lopez. Yet, the Bucks were really in a tough spot here, as they were battling the Houston Rockets, who had a similar offer on the table. Losing Lopez would be difficult to stomach, as the Bucks would have a tough time finding an adequate replacement to give them what the big man has over the past few years. The Rockets were a legitimate threat to snag the former All-Star, but that’s finally been put to rest.

Although he’s 35 years old, Lopez showed that he can undeniably still play at a high level after a strong showing this past season. Not only did Lopez finish second in the Defensive Player of the Year running, but he also posted his highest points per game average since 2016-17, having put up 15.9 this past season. On top of that, he shot a career-high 37.4 percent from long range. The big man can still stuff the stat sheet nightly and be the perfect center for this team, even if they are heading in a new direction under Head Coach Adrian Griffin.

Despite the hefty price tag, keeping Lopez is the right move for Milwaukee. They now have two of their key pieces locked up for the foreseeable future, and the team must now turn their attention to addressing the rest of the roster’s needs. The backup point guard position will be among their main focuses, but keep an eye on the wing as well, especially regarding Jae Crowder returning for another go-round next season.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis, rumors, and breakdowns in Free Agency.